Written Answers Thursday 3 March 2005

Scottish Executive

Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have been brought to court under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

Hugh Henry: Figures provided by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) indicate that the number of cases brought to court under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 to 31 December 2004 are as follows:

  

Guardianship Orders (GO) Registered
Financial
Welfare
Combined
Total


2002-03
50
210
28
288


2003-04
200
270
119
589


1 April 04 – 31 Dec 04
157
265
154
576


Total
407
745
301
1,453



  

Intervention Orders (IO) Registered
Financial
Welfare
Combined
Total


2002-03
49
6
1
56


2003-04
132
17
15
164


1 April 04 – 31 Dec 04
111
9
9
129


Total
292
32
25
349



  Note: These figures do not take account of:

  applications for guardianship and intervention orders which had been lodged but had still to be decided by the court,

  financial guardianship and intervention orders granted by the court but for which caution (an insurance bond to safeguard the adult from loss by the actions of persons authorised under the order) was still awaited.

  

Others
1/4/02 to 21/12/04
No.


Guardianship Orders– Variation of powers
33


Guardianship Orders - Replacement of Guardian
11


Guardianship Orders – Recall of Powers
3


Guardianship Orders – Substitute Guardian
1


Guardianship Orders – Appeal (Adult)
1


Guardianship Orders – Renewal of Appointment
2


Intervention Orders – Variation of Powers
4


Investigations
4

Alcohol Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 18 have been identified as regularly consuming alcohol.

Rhona Brankin: Alcohol consumption figures for children aged under 18 are not available centrally. Information on children aged 13 and 15 is available from the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle & Substance Use Survey . The interim report of the 2004 survey is available at the following web address www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/abstracts/salsus.htm .

Alcohol Misuse

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies were born with foetal alcohol syndrome, broken down by NHS board, in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information from Scottish Morbidity Records indicated the following numbers of babies born with foetal alcohol syndrome over the past 10 years. Due to the small numbers involved in health board areas, information is provided at Scotland level only.

  1995 - 4

  1996 - 8

  1997 - 6

  1998 - 4

  1999 - 2

  2000 - 7

  2001 - 6

  2002 - 8

  2003 - 3

  2004 - 9.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to give more support to people with dementia.

Rhona Brankin: Free personal care removes the added worry of financial hardship for people with dementia in care homes. This also benefits families and carers.

  We have also raised the quality of care expected in care homes and have established the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care to ensure compliance.

  We are also encouraging innovative approaches for dementia services. For example, the new Community Health Partnerships will include attention on integrated dementia services and we are investing in proposals for a managed care network in Tayside.

  With Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia, we have published guidance on improvements which is already influencing change. We are helping fund Alzheimer Scotland workshops to promote further change.

  I am meeting with Alzheimer Scotland again later this month to discuss this continuing agenda and will be addressing the Dementia Care Conference in April.

Angling

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Scottish Water about fishing rights on reservoirs.

Lewis Macdonald: We have had no recent discussions with Scottish Water about fishing rights on reservoirs.

Angling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre all documents relating to any Statutory Instrument regarding salmon fishing and netting on the Esk rivers, including all correspondence, including enclosures and attachments, with the Esk District Salmon Fishery Board and all information relating to (a) the level of salmon stocks and (b) compensation payments.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Angling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which district fishery boards are seeking to introduce measures for the conservation of salmon and whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre all correspondence and associated documents with each board on that issue.

Lewis Macdonald: Applications for Salmon Conservation Regulations have been received from the Esk District Salmon Fishery Board and the Annan District Salmon Fishery Board. Measures for the conservation of salmon under other provisions in the legislation, such as changes to annual close time, baits and lures regulations, have been implemented in response to applications from 24 District Salmon Fishery Boards throughout Scotland since the late 1970s. The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Angling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports salmon netting.

Lewis Macdonald: We will continue to support any legal and sustainable form of fishing including salmon netting.

Angling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact a mandatory catch and release scheme for salmon angling would have on tourism, particularly in relation to visitors from abroad.

Lewis Macdonald: The proportion of the total Scottish salmon angling catch that is subsequently released has risen year on year from 8% in 1994 to 55% in 2003. The adoption of the practice is therefore growing and widely practised. The report, The Economic Impact of Game and Coarse Angling in Scotland , published in March 2004, estimated that 47% of angler days fished and 66% of angler expenditure was attributable to non-Scottish visiting anglers. It is likely, therefore, that a high proportion of visiting anglers practise catch and release.

Angling

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether section 5 of the Scotland Act 1998 (Border Rivers) Order 1999 contains provision for the Environment Agency’s function in relation to the introduction of rod licences on the Border Esk.

Lewis Macdonald: Article 5 of the Border Rivers Order does not make any provision concerning the Environment Agency’s rod licensing functions. It specifically refers to functions of ministers of the Crown, and rod licensing is a duty placed directly on the Environment Agency by the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making to ensure that individuals and communities know about their rights and responsibilities under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.

Hugh Henry: The Executive is undertaking a wide range of activities to ensure that everyone in Scotland knows the law will be on their side if they stand up to antisocial behaviour, and that those who break the law know the consequences if they refuse to change their ways.

  Last week, the First Minister launched a public information campaign to raise awareness of the measures in the new act. The public information campaign includes local radio, local press and bus advertising. We will also be distributing a leaflet to every household in Scotland that will carry the same message, as well as telling people where they can go locally if they need help.

Asylum Seekers

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Home Office regarding the costs to the NHS associated with refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow.

Rhona Brankin: A meeting took place in November 2004 involving officials from the National Asylum Support Service, COSLA, Glasgow City Council, Greater Glasgow Health Board and the Scottish Executive. This meeting discussed the suggestion put forward by COSLA that there were unmet costs associated with provision for refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow, including costs to the NHS, and that the Scottish Executive should meet these costs. COSLA subsequently made a submission setting out their position and this is being considered by ministers.

  The Arbuthnott formula is the method of distributing resources to NHS boards. This takes account of population increases and also of aspects such as deprivation. Glasgow’s budget is now over £1 billion for 2004-05. The formula is adjusted each year to reflect population change, and this will take into account the number of asylum seekers, and will reflect deprivation in the areas where they live.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it would consider that restraint of any asylum seeker should be investigated to ascertain whether an offence had been committed, where an asylum seeker was restrained (a) inside and (b) outwith Dungavel House immigration removal centre.

Elish Angiolini QC: Where an allegation of a crime is made to the police, it ought to be investigated, wherever the incident occurred. Whether an action amounts to a crime depends on the facts and circumstances of the individual case.

Boundaries

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to redraw the boundary for Dundee City Council to include parts of Angus.

Mr Tom McCabe: Scottish ministers have no current plans to redraw local government boundaries.

  However, we will of course listen to any representations made to us by local authorities or communities.

Cancer

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action to improve the rate of early diagnosis of secondary cancer in breast cancer patients.

Mr Andy Kerr: Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change , the Scottish cancer strategy, sets out a range of actions being taken to secure more rapid diagnosis and treatment for all cancers.

  Investment plans and progress reports are published six-monthly and can be found on www.cancerinscotland.show.scot.nhs.uk and www.scotland.gov.uk.

Community Care

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received about changing funding structures for voluntary community care forums.

Rhona Brankin: We are not aware of any representations other than the member’s recent letter about changing funding structures for community care forums. I replied to that letter on 28 February highlighting the increasingly important role for the voluntary sector in local planning and delivery of care and our desire to see funding devolved to local Community Health Partnerships.

Community Care

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many home help clients there were in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004, broken down by local authority area.

Rhona Brankin: The information requested is contained in the table:

  Number of Home Care Clients, by Local Authority Area, During Week Ending 31 March 1999 to 2004

  

Local Authority
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Aberdeen City
4,766
3,602
3,001
2,779
2,514
2,904


Aberdeenshire
2,041
2,052
1,828
1,867
1,874
1,939


Angus
1,867
1,802
1,804
1,740
1,778
1,810


Argyll and Bute
950
973
927
857
965
1,060


Clackmannanshire
601
652
656
648
680
700


Dumfries and Galloway
1,880
1,669
2,015
1,755
2,048
2,050


Dundee City
2,978
2,891
2,445
2,166
1,886
1,870


East Ayrshire
1,398
1,348
1,311
1,361
1,444
1,706


East Dunbartonshire
1,010
1,022
986
1,013
1,029
1,172


East Lothian
1,196
1,287
1,195
1,267
1,128
1,451


East Renfrewshire
820
847
765
939
884
965


Edinburgh, City of
7,261
6,393
5,969
5,958
6,084
5,963


Eilean Siar
870
803
779
768
765
765


Falkirk
2,420
2,287
22,281
2,098
2,010
2,006


Fife
7,491
6,496
5,858
5,629
6,082
6,875


Glasgow City
10,048
9,763
8,802
8,789
9,040
9,102


Highland
2,999
2,915
2,748
2,670
3,055
2,957


Inverclyde
1,311
1,281
1,146
1,255
1,104
1,137


Midlothian
1,253
1,319
1,256
1,113
1,084
1,201


Moray
1,163
1,056
1,063
1,119
1,205
1,360


North Ayrshire
1,696
1,629
1,490
1,301
1,491
1,692


North Lanarkshire
2,999
3,074
2,895
3,408
4,370
4,394


Orkney Islands
492
465
442
516
428
511


Perth and Kinross
1,479
1,463
1,477
1,532
1,618
1,559


Renfrewshire
2,505
2,453
2,542
2,098
2,169
1,814


Scottish Borders
1,576
1,569
1,491
1,553
1,686
1,724


Shetland Islands
514
659
722
553
545
529


South Ayrshire
1,199
1,358
1,203
1,298
1,471
1,723


South Lanarkshire
2,773
2,629
2,445
2,326
2,568
2,709


Stirling
930
921
881
1,015
848
982


West Dunbartonshire
1,760
1,767
1,558
1,647
1,834
2,065


West Lothian
1,812
1,764
1,552
1,408
1,579
1,319


Scotland
74,058
70,210
65,533
64,546
67,266
70,014



  Source: SEHD Analytical Services Division – H1 Return.

Construction Industry

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to legislate to regulate builders’ missives.

Hugh Henry: The Law Society of Scotland is consulting with developers and the home building industry organisation Homes for Scotland on the introduction of a new form of builders’ missive. The society will then pilot the missive.

  The Executive will consider the outcome of the pilot before making any decision on whether intervention is necessary.

Culture

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total running costs have been of the Ayrshire Film Focus office, based in Prestwick.

Patricia Ferguson: This is a matter for Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire. I understand that total funding for Ayrshire Film Focus for 2002-03 to 2004-05 from public sources was some £195,000.

Culture

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the three Ayrshire local authorities regarding financial contributions to the Ayrshire Film Focus project.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with the Ayrshire local authorities on this issue.

Education

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the future of the school cultural co-ordinators programme.

Patricia Ferguson: Phase II (2004-06) of the pilot Cultural Co-ordinators programme is in train. Monitoring and evaluation of the scheme continues under the management of the Scottish Arts Council. The future of the programme beyond 2006 will be determined in the light of evidence from evaluation of the pilot.

Energy Efficiency

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets are being set for energy efficiency in the building of new homes.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, to answer. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish building regulations set mandatory standards for energy efficiency in new homes. These cover:

  
Thermal insulation to building fabric (currently the most demanding standards in the UK);
  Efficiency of heating and hot water systems;
  Heating controls;
  Insulation of pipes, ducts and hot water tanks, and
  Commissioning of the heating and hot water services equipment.


  The energy efficiency levels that are set at present will be re-examined in the recently commenced review of these standards, to be consulted on in spring 2006.

Enterprise

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the audit and monitoring procedures of projects in the Highlands and Islands differ from those procedures applied in other parts of Scotland.

Allan Wilson: No, they do not.

Enterprise

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether decisions taken by HABIA apply to Scotland and are binding on companies and businesses based in Scotland.

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many directors of HABIA are from Scotland or represent Scottish-based companies or businesses, which companies such directors represent and how they are appointed.

Allan Wilson: This information is not available.

Environment

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the proposal to plant one million trees on the Paterson’s landfill site in Mount Vernon, Glasgow.

Lewis Macdonald: Forestry Commission Scotland has discussed the conversion of the Paterson’s landfill site to woodland with Paterson’s and the greenbelt Foundation. The commission has not discussed the matter with Glasgow City Council.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its responsibilities are for preventing damage to important features of candidate Special Areas of Conservation.

Lewis Macdonald: Article 6.2 of the Habitats Directive requires member states to take appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of important habitats and the habitats of important species within Special Areas of Conservation. In Scotland, this is the overall responsibility of the Scottish Executive, although implementation is delivered through competent authorities such as Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Forestry Commission Scotland and planning authorities.

Europe

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions were set by the European Commission for the funding of the upgrade of the Nigg Bay dry dock.

Allan Wilson: The conditions set in relation to European Regional Development Fund grants to upgrade Nigg Bay dry dock were set by the then Scottish Office as Implementing Authority for the programme. These were set following detailed consultation between the European Commission, Department of Trade and Industry and The Scottish Office.

  The grant conditions were:

  
1. In order to meet the European Commission Audit requirements of the programme, project sponsors are required to retain financial and accounting records for three years following the final payment made under the programme.
2. Within three months of the date of this offer, the project sponsor must submit to the (programme) Executive (and not the Scottish Office) details of the arrangements established, to fully monitor and evaluate this project and to measure its impact against targets contained within the Single Programming Document. No payment will be made until satisfactory details have been submitted.
3. The Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme will not normally consider applications for increased costs relating to an approved project. A request will only be considered in the most exceptional cases and at the discretion of the Programme Management Committee.
4. If the yard is to provide for works relating to oil rig decommissioning an Environmental Impact Assessment for the new work to be carried out will be required to be submitted.
5. A satisfactory agreement between the applicant and BARMAC should be reached, as to reversion of the asset if the Nigg facility, or that part of it relating to the project, is closed. 
6. The output of the yard shall not include metal hulled, self propelled ships, unless approval is granted by the Secretary of State for Scotland. Any such approval would only be given following consultation with the European Commission.

European Funding

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which 14 projects funded by the European Regional Development Fund in the Highlands and Islands between 1994 and 1999 failed the recent first stage European Commission audit.

Allan Wilson: None. The draft audit report raises a range of issues. These have been addressed in the Executive’s response. We await the European Commission’s response.

Family Mediation

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with Family Mediation Scotland, Couple Counselling Scotland, Scottish Marriage Care and Stepfamily Scotland in the last 12 months and what the specific purpose was of each meeting.

Hugh Henry: Meetings are held regularly between the Executive and Family Mediation Scotland, Couple Counselling Scotland, Scottish Marriage Care and Stepfamily Scotland to discuss matters of mutual interest. Over the last 12 months, officials have met these organisations on five occasions.

Family Mediation

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide sustainable funding for Family Mediation Scotland over the next five years.

Hugh Henry: Family Mediation Scotland receives grant assistance under sections 9 & 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 paid through the Children, Young People and Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund. Awards of core grant are made on a three year cycle with the current awards applying to financial years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07. The organisation may then reapply to the Fund. We are providing additional funding of up to £250,000 in 2004-05 and 2005-06 for four national family support organisations, including Family Mediation Scotland, to secure the delivery of more integrated administration geared to improving services to clients.

Family Mediation

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Family Law (Scotland) Bill will have on the provision of local services for supporting families and how it will fund such services in the future.

Hugh Henry: The Executive has long recognised the importance of family relationship services - counselling and mediation - in helping families to resolve difficulties without recourse to the law or court intervention. This will continue to be the case under our proposed reforms to family law. We provide grant assistance to four national family support organisations under the Children, Young People and Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund. The focus of central funding from the Executive is on national organisations, while local voluntary sector services are expected to source their funding locally. We are considering how best to secure an integrated approach to the needs of families in transition by aligning family relationship support services more closely with other important services to children and families provided or secured by local government.

Fisheries

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is in respect of the publication of the 2003 Fisheries Research Service survey of fish farms.

Lewis Macdonald: The publication of the 2003 annual production survey, a voluntary industry census, has been delayed whilst key production data is verified. The Scottish Executive expects to publish the 2003 survey shortly.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide full details in respect of all outstanding claims from each valuer who acted for its Environment and Rural Affairs Department in respect of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ross Finnie: The resolution of all outstanding claims arising from the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001 is a matter for Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs with whom the valuers have a contractual relationship.

Forestry Commission

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Forestry Commission’s targets are for (a) replanting and (b) planting new trees for the current year; whether that target is being achieved, and what plans the Executive has to increase its budget for incentives to plant trees.

Lewis Macdonald: Forestry Commission Scotland does not set annual targets for private sector new planting. The average area of new planting in the last ten years, between 1995 and 2004, the most recent year for which we have figures, was just less than 10,000 hectares per annum. However, it should be noted that this figure includes a recent three year period of reduced activity as result of foot-and-mouth disease and uncertainty about the effects of Common Agricultural Policy reform.

  The average area that was re-stocked following felling operations in the last ten years, between 1995 and 2004, the most recent year for which we have figures, was just less than 3,300 hectares per annum.

  Incentives for private sector new planting are offered through Forestry Commission Scotland’s Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department’s Farmland Premium. The current budget for these grant schemes is £24.2 million. Following the 2004 spending review, this will increase to £25.5 million in 2005-06, £27.4 million in 2006-07and £28.9 million by 2007-08.

G8 Summit

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to use the G8 summit to promote tourism in Perthshire.

Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2O-5625 on 3 March 2005, which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sch/search .

Gaelic

Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the availability of Gaelic-medium education.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting and encouraging authorities to increase the availability of Gaelic-medium education through the provision of funding, guidance, training, teacher support and resources.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for cottage and community hospitals in delivering an integrated health service.

Mr Andy Kerr: The planning and delivery of health care services – including those provided in community hospitals in many rural parts of Scotland – are the responsibility of NHS boards, working within national priorities set by the Scottish Executive.

  We expect boards to plan and deliver services that are safe, sustainable and affordable.

  A review of community hospitals is currently underway. The purpose of the review is to address the Partnership Agreement commitment to develop the important role of community hospitals, and to develop a strategy for sustaining small, rural and community hospitals where they are safe and effective, including the provision of minor surgery, and to act as a resource to GPs.

  This will inform the work which Professor David Kerr and his Advisory Group are currently undertaking on the development of a National Framework for Service Change for NHS Scotland. Their report is expected in late spring 2005, and will contain a number of recommendations which will be of relevance.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10883 by Mr Andy Kerr on 12 October 2004, when the letter promised on the availability of Scottish information from the World Health Organisation’s European health for all database will be written.

Mr Andy Kerr: I have responded to the member in two letters on this issue, dated 25 November 2004 and 10 February 2005.

Health

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to replicate the new services being rolled out in England for sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to set up local multi-disciplinary teams for CFS/ME services.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive takes the view that the planning of services is best carried out by NHS boards based on their assessment of local needs. NHS boards have been encouraged to consider what they can do to improve services for people with CFS/ME.

Health

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop a managed clinical network for CFS/ME sufferers.

Rhona Brankin: The development of managed clinical networks must be led from within the NHS. NHS boards who wish to participate in a network must prepare a case and may then apply to the Executive for support.

Health

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will match on a per capita basis the investment in developing CFS/ME services in England.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive prefers to maximise the unified budgets made available to NHS boards for the treatment of all chronic conditions, rather than hold back funds for specific conditions.

Health

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13712 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 February 2005, when the trial of a prototype electronic prescribing system in a South Ayrshire hospital will conclude.

Mr Andy Kerr: The electronic prescribing system in South Ayrshire is operational and is being used to set standards on which to base a national specification, which may be included in any IT procurement strategy.

Health

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase prescription and other health service charges.

Rhona Brankin: We have just laid before the Parliament regulations to increase prescription and other National Health Service charges in Scotland from 1 April 2005. There will be a cash increase in the prescription charges of 10p (1.57%) from £6.40 to £6.50 for each quantity of a drug or appliance dispensed.

  The cost of a prescription prepayment certificate will rise to £33.90 for a four month certificate and £93.20 for an annual certificate. These offer savings for people needing more than five items in four months or 14 items in a year.

  Prescription charges are expected to raise some £44 million for NHSScotland in 2004-05.

  Charges for elastic stockings and tights, wigs and most fabric supports supplied through the hospital service will be increased similarly.

  The maximum patient charge for a single course of dental treatment begun on or after 1 April 2005 will increase from £378 to £384.

  We have restricted the prescription charge increase to the same cash amount as the previous five years and other increases are in line with this percentage increase.

  In order to provide help with the cost of spectacles or contact leases to children, people on a low income and individuals with complex sight problems, optical voucher values will increase by 2.5%.

Higher Education

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students there are studying geography in Scottish universities, broken down by (a) university and (b) year group.

Mr Jim Wallace: The data held by the Scottish Executive on students at higher education institutions are collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The subject coding system used by HESA allocates separate categories to human and social geography and to physical and terrestrial geographical and environmental sciences. In the tables I have given the numbers of students in each of these broad categories separately. The numbers are for students at Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) for the year 2002-03, the most recent year for which data are available at present.

  (a) Numbers of Students by Higher Education Institution

  Students at Scottish HEIs in 2002-03 with a Main Subject of Study within Human and Social Geography

  

Institution
Students


The University of Edinburgh
290


The University of Glasgow
160


The University of Strathclyde
185


The University of Aberdeen
235


The University of Dundee
210


The University of St Andrews
15


Total
1,095



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: All numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.

  Students at Scottish HEIs in 2002-03 with a Main Subject of Study within Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences

  

Institution
Students


University of Abertay Dundee
15


The Robert Gordon University
10


The University of Paisley
100


Napier University
95


The University of Edinburgh
515


The University of Glasgow
310


The University of Strathclyde
55


The University of Aberdeen
315


Heriot-Watt University
85


The University of Dundee
45


The University of St Andrews
295


The University of Stirling
215


Scottish Agricultural College
5


Bell College
65


Total
2,135



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: All numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.

  (b) Numbers of Students by Year of Study

  Students at Scottish HEIs in 2002-03 with a Main Subject of Study within Human and Social Geography

  

Year of Student on Programme
Level of Study


Postgraduate
First Degree
Total


1
20
325
340


2
10
275
285


3
15
220
235


4
5
205
215


5
5
15
15


Total
55
1,040
1,095



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: All numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.

  Students at Scottish HEIs in 2002-03 with a Main Subject of Study within Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Science

  

Year of Student on Programme
Level of Study


Postgraduate
First Degree
Sub Degree
Total


1
365
470
45
875


2
80
425
10
515


3
60
310
Less than 3
370


4
15
310
Less than 3 
325


5
5
40
Less than 3
40


7
Less than 3
Less than 3
Less than 3
5


Total
525
1,555
60
2,135



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: All numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.

Historic Scotland

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the level of free access to Historic Scotland properties.

Patricia Ferguson: Historic Scotland plans to continue the significant progress achieved in recent years in enabling free access to its properties. There are in excess of 250 sites throughout Scotland to which the general public have free access all year round.

  Progress has also been made on a number of initiatives including the Free Weekend, held annually in April. Last year, 58,500 visitors took advantage of the Free Weekend to visit the 74 paying sites throughout Scotland, including Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart Castles. There is also free access to Edinburgh Castle, St Andrews Castle and St Andrews Cathedral on St Andrew’s Day each year.

  Historic Scotland also operates a free educational visit scheme which attracted 66,660 free visits last year.

  In recent years, Historic Scotland has focused on community engagement and significantly increased its levels of community based activity and access.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the time period and target number of surveys are for the single survey pilot scheme.

Malcolm Chisholm: The pilot was scheduled to run for eight to 12 months from July 2004. It aimed to test both the single survey concept and whether it would be viable on a voluntary, market-led basis. It was hoped that the market could deliver 1,200 surveys.

  We believe that the rationale for the single survey remains strong, providing in-depth information on property condition to both sellers and potential buyers. But as only 74 surveys have been commissioned it is clear that the potential marketing advantages do not provide sufficient incentives for house sellers to take part. We have therefore concluded that the market will not deliver the single survey on a voluntary basis and that we should now evaluate the outcomes of the pilot with a view to designing a mandatory scheme.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent in real terms on improvement and repair grants for private sector houses in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004 and how much each is expected to spend in 2005.

Malcolm Chisholm: The table shows amounts spent on private sector improvement and repair grants only for years 1998-99 to 2003-04. This excludes standard amenity and conversion grants.

  Information on future spending on improvement and repair grants is not available.

  Private Sector Improvement and Repair Grants: 1998-99 to 2003-04.

  

Local Authority Area
1998-99
Amount (£)
1999-2000
Amount (£)
2000-01
Amount (£)
2001-02
Amount (£)
2002-03
Amount (£)
2003-04
Amount (£)


Scotland
43,428,644
34,002,375
34,006,163
39,948,845
34,764,361
35,145,394


Aberdeen City
2,320,962
2,885,018
1,649,396
2,420,133
1,571,656
1,513,130


Aberdeenshire
297,862
387,832
129,112
322,775
263,743
225,241


Angus
381,677
478,413
423,578
475,312
510,520
550,363


Argyll and Bute
1,155,349
1,689,326
2,077,300
1,790,648
1,935,954
1,981,882


Clackmannanshire
112,056
115,246
265,762
284,853
229,169
439,080


Dumfries and Galloway
490,883
454,363
560,974
654,625
921,278
1,046,173


Dundee City
2,313,897
1,645,934
1,374,271
1,185,378
1,462,120
1,080,955


East Ayrshire
388,590
207,167
387,544
227,474
314,652
393,102


East Dunbartonshire
139,691
264,781
374,660
201,451
174,899
192,622


East Lothian
116,643
421,462
622,204
620,624
648,287
538,350


East Renfrewshire
205,403
169,817
137,603
125,303
161,977
376,026


Edinburgh, City of
11,403,845
5,148,864
5,184,892
2,710,717
1,471,047
1,121,851


Eilean Siar
3,121,347
651,820
2,924,542
2,950,984
2,320,154
2,488,734


Falkirk
444,169
417,079
479,576
262,839
454,706
397,761


Fife
179,345
357,873
342,556
195,921
205,862
133,623


Glasgow City
2,241,553
3,138,971
4,702,454
10,679,098
6,286,228
8,044,364


Highland
3,009,676
3,285,019
3,224,873
3,568,533
3,290,526
2,643,997


Inverclyde
2,426,931
1,684,358
121,615
747,710
202,321
175,321


Midlothian
55,911
105,513
92,017
102,313
315,586
83,294


Moray
452,198
573,370
477,722
437,301
271,616
630,302


North Ayrshire
2,750,482
319,808
504,276
1,088,671
875,912
1,053,176


North Lanarkshire
1,419,666
1,444,578
1,479,920
1,594,566
1,820,455
1,935,312


Orkney
558,342
1,453,988
999,359
910,044
723,174
407,967


Perth and Kinross
1,096,994
1,002,616
722,502
790,467
620,832
885,958


Renfrewshire
361,249
433,108
346,775
245,709
344,543
456,612


Scottish Borders, The
1,148,976
844,317
656,923
328,780
218,494
49,461


Shetland
258,281
160,423
415,538
676,632
605,722
350,349


South Ayrshire
318,824
254,635
341,152
327,015
335,731
463,649


South Lanarkshire
3,284,512
2,833,558
1,873,560
2,909,223
4,747,377
4,101,298


Stirling
537,875
466,259
447,625
351,877
323,086
307,540


West Dunbartonshire
32,006
329,940
358,759
386,519
368,189
391,527


West Lothian
403,450
376,919
307,123
375,351
768,545
686,374



  Source: Scottish Executive Housing Statistics Branch.

  Amounts approved for standard amenity grants and conversions are excluded from the above figures. Figures show actual amounts spent.

  In 2003-04 the expenditure shown was met from Private Sector Housing Grant (PSHG) totalling £50 million, which was provided by the Scottish Executive for this and other types of investment in private sector housing. PSHG has been increased to £70 million in 2004-05 and £72 million in 2005-06 but firm information on the expected level of expenditure on improvement and repair grants in those years is not available.

Human Rights

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary question to question S2O-5349 by Hugh Henry on 10 February 2005, whether it will identify which specific human rights issues are reserved matters.

Hugh Henry: Reserved human rights issues are those which arise in relation to areas of public policy or law that are described as reserved in the Scotland Act.

Human Rights

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Scottish human rights commission will have enforcement powers.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive’s published proposals for the Scottish Human Rights Commission do not include it having formal enforcement powers. Enforcement of compliance with human rights legislation is a matter for the courts. The commission will be able to investigate and report on generic or sectoral human rights issues. To assist it in this role it will have powers of access to information.

Human Rights

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary question to question S2O-5349 by Hugh Henry on 10 February 2005, which specific aspects of human rights will not fall within the purview of the proposed Scottish human rights commission.

Hugh Henry: As a body established by an Act of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s remit will extend only to devolved issues. The commission will therefore not be able to exercise its functions in relation to issues that are wholly reserved under the Scotland Act.

Justice

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many procurators fiscal specialising in environmental crime there have been in each year since 1999, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of procurators fiscal.

Elish Angiolini QC: As indicated in the answer to question S2W-11556 on 17 November 2004, the introduction of a network of environmental specialists was announced on 9 February 2004, when there were 15 environmental specialists appointed. There are 15 environmental specialists at present.

  I refer the Member to the answer to question S2W-13744 on 3 February 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3725 by Ms Margaret Curran on 12 November 2003, whether the general review of civil judicial statistics has been completed.

Hugh Henry: Phase 1 of the review of civil judicial statistics, consultation, is nearing completion.

  A consultation document, Review of Civil Judicial Statistics was issued on 15 September 2004. The closing date was extended to 10 January 2005. Responses are being analysed and the results will inform recommendations for any reform of the statistics.

Legislation

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring forward proposals for the reform of standard securities for mortgage purposes.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has no current plans for reform of standard securities for mortgage purposes. However, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, we are studying the Scottish Law Commission’s Report on Registration of Rights in Security by Companies which is available at http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/downloads/rep197.pdf .

Listed Buildings

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the listed buildings within its care would be likely to be served with listed buildings repairs notices if they were privately owned.

Patricia Ferguson: Information on the condition of the historic government estate in Scotland is contained in the Biennial Conservation Report: the Government’s Historic Estate 2001-03 , published in 2004. A copy has been placed in the Parliaments Reference Centre. The Scottish Executive takes seriously its obligation to keep all its buildings in good repair. Serving repairs notices, however, is a matter for planning authorities.

Marches

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to meet COSLA to discuss the practical implications of Sir John Orr’s recent report, Review of Marches and Parades in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: As I announced on 24 January, we are establishing a working group to support the practical implementation of the recommendations of the Review of Marches and Parades. The first meeting of that group, including representatives from COSLA and police associations, will take place shortly.

Medical Students

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to increase the proportion of Scottish-domiciled students studying medicine in Scottish universities.

Mr Andy Kerr: Selection to medical schools is a matter for our universities. The Scottish Executive is discussing selection criteria with our medical schools within our on-going discussions on Sir Kenneth Calman’s Review of Basic Medical Education in Scotland.

NHS Funding

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary question to S2O-5214 by Mr Andy Kerr on 3 February 2005 ( Official Report , c 14265), how it determined that the three hospitals in the answer would not have been built under the policies of the Scottish National Party.

Mr Andy Kerr: Under the Scottish National Party’s proposal to set up a Scottish Trust for Public Investment (STPI), borrowing would cost more than claimed, unless guaranteed by the Scottish Executive/Treasury in which case would require investments to be controlled within block "public expenditure" totals and "on balance sheet".

  PFI is not simply about borrowing money to fund construction costs from the private sector but is about creating a structure in which better value for money is achieved by looking at the project as a whole over its life.

  Whilst the cost of finance is a component of this structure, cheaper finance in itself does not necessarily mean better overall value for money. The optimisation of risk allocation, competition and innovation which PFI brings should more than offset the additional costs of financing.

NHS Funding

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary question to S2O-5214 by Mr Andy Kerr on 3 February 2005 ( Official Report , c 14265), whether it will provide a more specific and substantive answer to the supplementary question regarding the effect of fixed payment PFI/PPP projects on NHS budgets, the initial rates of return to shareholders in project companies and the delivery of revenue streams to the private sector by the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: In 2004-05, the estimated unitary payments for signed NHSScotland PFI contracts is £100.184 million. This represents 1.26% of forecast revenue expenditure for NHS boards.

  The total costs under the PFI/PPP contract reflect not just the cost of constructing facilities but the provision of defined services over the period of the contract. Charges payable to the private sector provider are agreed locally in advance and parcelled up into annual payments. These are constant in real terms, the only increase being to take account of inflation and agreed variations in services provided. Payment levels are therefore known and budgets planned accordingly. Any NHSScotland body has to be able to demonstrate the affordability of the scheme within a full business case prior to finalising the contract.

  Profit streams from NHS PPP contracts relating to private sector contractors are commercially sensitive. It is the responsibility of the procuring public sector body to ensure that the PPP procurement route shows value for money compared to a conventional procurement route.

NHS Funding

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12671 by Mr Tom McCabe on 13 December 2004 and the supplementary question to S2O-5214 by Mr Andy Kerr on 3 February 2005 ( Official Report , c 14265), whether the internal rate of return in health projects under PFI/PPP would fall into the 13% to 16% range and whether the profit stream from NHS PFI/PPP contracts in 2004-05 will, therefore, be in the region of £13 million to £16 million.

Mr Andy Kerr: Equity internal rates of return (IRRs) vary across the PPP sector, including health, with an indicative range across the UK of 13% to 16%.

  Profit streams from NHS PPP contracts relating to private sector contractors are commercially sensitive. It is the responsibility of the procuring public body to ensure that the PPP procurement route shows value for money compared to a conventional route, taking all relevant costs and benefits into account.

NHS Hospitals

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is meeting its commitments in respect of former residents of Woodlands Hospital in Aberdeen who now are in the community.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will deliver the commitment to a treatment and assessment unit for former patients of Woodlands Hospital on the site of the hospital.

Rhona Brankin: As part of the long-stay learning disability hospital closure programme The same as you?  recommended that all health boards should reduce their assessment and treatment places for people with learning disabilities to four for every 100,000 population across the country. To support this shift from institutionalised care, it also recommended that plans should be in place for appropriate community services to avoid in-patient assessments and treatment.

  Local authorities and NHS boards should jointly agree on service provision for people with learning disabilities who have been discharged from long-stay hospitals.

NHS Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to the British Heart Foundation’s campaign to increase the number of specialist heart nurses in the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are 65 specialist cardiac nurses in the NHS in Scotland. We are in fruitful dialogue with the British Heart Foundation and are aware of the good work they are undertaking in the area of heart failure nurses. They have supported two heart failure nurses in Dumfries and Galloway and we are awaiting the outcome of a national mapping exercise of heart failure services they are conducting.

  We have a good story to tell in Scotland with our cardiac services. Our chronic heart disease (CHD) and stroke Strategy brought £40 million funding over three years. Some NHS boards – including Greater Glasgow and Ayrshire and Arran – have spent some of this money on heart failure services. Last week, we announced that Scottish patients have the shortest waiting times in the UK for diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease. The Executive is pressing ahead with plans to ban smoking in all enclosed public places – which the British Heart Foundation called: "a bold decision… showing how seriously they take the health of their country". And above all else, we have cut the rate of premature death from CHD by 38% since 1995.

NHS Waiting Times

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times have been for (a) residential and (b) non-residential alcohol detoxification services in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Rhona Brankin: This information is not held centrally.

National Health Service

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS hospitals use Patientline to supplement their provision of entertainment systems for patients.

Mr Andy Kerr: This is a matter for individual NHSScotland boards. The information requested is not held centrally.

National Health Service

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to introduce the scheme to recover NHS costs in cases of personal injury compensation.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive recently completed a public consultation exercise on draft regulations to govern a scheme to recover NHS costs in cases of personal injury compensation. Although the full analysis of the responses to the consultation is still under way, one of the key messages to come out of our initial analysis was that high levels of concern remain about the insurance market’s ability to cope with the scheme. I have therefore decided that now is not the right time to introduce such a scheme. However, we remain committed to the principles that underpin the scheme and it is our intention to introduce it by 1 October 2006.

Ombudsmen

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10879 by Hugh Henry on 5 October 2004, when it will publish the consultation paper on the system of handling complaints against advocates and solicitors and the powers of the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman.

Hugh Henry: The consultation paper is being finalised and will be published as soon as possible. As I explained to Parliament on 20 January, the Executive wished to consider the contents of Sir David Clementi’s report on the regulation of legal services in England and Wales which was published on 15 December 2004 before publishing the consultation paper

Parliamentary Questions

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines "soon" as used in its answers to parliamentary questions.

Ms Margaret Curran: Interpretation of the term will depend upon the particular context in which it is employed. Where the term is used, it will be, as is always the case, that the Executive’s intention is to follow up the issue without any avoidable delay. Whenever possible, however, we will aim to provide a specific deadline.

People with Disabilities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on improvement repair grants for disabled people in the (a) privately-rented and (b) owner-occupied sector in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2002, (v) 2003 and (vi) 2004.

Rhona Brankin: Responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 lies with the provider of a service. The information requested is not held centrally.

People with Learning Disabilities

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to help those patients with learning disabilities who are still in long-stay hospitals to move into their own accommodation in the community.

Rhona Brankin: The Home at last? report which was published in January 2004 is designed to ensure that this happens. It provides action points for local authorities and NHS partners so that suitable community based services are made available for people with learning disabilities who have been living in hospital.

Planning

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish planning guidance on the use of green belt land.

Johann Lamont: We intend to publish a draft Scottish Planning Policy for full consultation in late spring 2005.

Planning

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to announce the results of its consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Guideline: NPPG16 Opencast Coal and Related Minerals: March 1999 (amended May 2001).

Johann Lamont: Responses to the consultation paper have been published on the internet at www.scotland.gov.uk/about/planning/papers.aspx . Finalised guidance should be issued in spring 2005.

Prescription Charges

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether prescription charges are made to renal patients who require dialysis access devices.

Mr Andy Kerr: Dialysis access devices are only available through the hospital service and are therefore provided, free of charge, to patients who require them.

Prescription Charges

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients on peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis continue to be exempt from prescription charges.

Mr Andy Kerr: There has been no change to the list of medical conditions which exempt patients from paying prescription charges.

Prescription Charges

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what updates to guidance on prescription charges have been made in the last 12 months.

Mr Andy Kerr: Our last annual prescription charge guidance update circular (NHS HDL(2004)17) was issued in March 2004. It included guidance about prescription charges, regulation changes, prepayment certificates and publicity material in connection with prescription charges.

Recycling

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the use of reusable nappies and reduce the waste caused by disposable nappies.

Ross Finnie: We are providing a total of £845,300 in 2004-05 and 2005-06 to the Waste and Resources Action Programme to carry out work on real nappies as part of their waste prevention initiative. This funding includes: financial support for the Scottish Real Nappy Network; a grant aid programme to provide grants to real nappy schemes and businesses, such as nappy laundering services, and a communication campaign, through the Scottish Waste Awareness Group, to promote real nappies.

Residential Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Care Commission has responsibility for auditing prescribing practices in residential and nursing homes.

Rhona Brankin: No. The Care Commission’s role is to regulate care services defined in the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 , which includes care home services. When inspecting a care home, Care Commission staff look for evidence that medicines management systems in the home are safe. The Commission is not however responsible for monitoring the clinical advice, treatment and prescribing practices of GPs to their patients in care homes. Prescribing advisers in NHS boards monitor prescribing trends, and support prescribing practices, for prescribing by GPs for patients in care homes who are registered with their practices.

Road Safety

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to improve road safety on the A92 between New Inn and the Tay Road Bridge.

Nicol Stephen: Following completion of the A92 Route Action Management Plan in November 2004 a number of proposals to improve road safety on the A92 between New Inn and the Tay Road Bridge have been approved and will be implemented during 2005-06. These include:

  
The renewal of road markings, the installation of bollards and the provision of red textured surfacing at all junctions;
  The installation of anti-skid surfacing at some locations, together with vehicle activated signing;
  Speed limit measures at Freuchie, and
  A number of junction improvement studies.


  In addition, carriageway resurfacing, widening and drainage improvement works will be undertaken during 2005-06.

  I have also asked for a full report on safety issues on the A92 at the B937 junction south of Ladybank.

Rural Development

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to rural development trusts.

Lewis Macdonald: Development trusts in rural areas are supported in a number of ways. The Scottish Rural Partnership Fund offers grant aid through a competitive bidding process for development trusts to build community capacity and provide local services or facilities. Development trusts are also eligible to apply for support through Communities Scotland’s Futurebuilders programme aimed at building the capacity of social enterprise. The Executive through Communities Scotland is also funding the Development Trusts Association Scotland which has good representation from rural trusts. Support may also be available via the Enterprise Networks’ Business Gateway.

Schools

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposal by Scottish Borders Council to delay the implementation of the proposal to close Newlands Primary School on condition that parents of children at the school raise £1 million for repairs constitutes a precedent that the Executive would wish to see followed elsewhere.

Peter Peacock: I understand that the council’s decision to allow this option to be explored reflects the particular circumstances of Newlands Primary School. I would not regard this as setting a precedent.

Schools

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the success of the school cultural co-ordinators programme.

Patricia Ferguson: Phase I (2002-2004) of the pilot Cultural Co-ordinators programme was evaluated by an external consultant and a resultant report published in June 2004. A copy of this evaluation is available from the Scottish Arts Council, which administers and monitors the initiative on behalf of the Scottish Executive. The report findings are being used to help shape Phase II (2004-06) of the programme.

  In addition, a reference group drawn from relevant sectors, including education, the arts and cultural heritage, has been established. The group assists with the allocation of resources and the monitoring and training arrangements.

Scotland Act 1998

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how, in its relationship with the UK Government, it interprets the definition of "national security" in section B8 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998.

Ms Margaret Curran: The interpretation of legislation, such as this provision of the Scotland Act, in its application to particular cases or contexts depends very much on the facts and circumstances of the case or context in question.

Scottish Executive Buildings

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many listed buildings there are within its care, broken down by local authority area and Executive department.

Patricia Ferguson: The Biennial Conservation Report: the Government’s Historic Estate 2001-03 , published last year, reported the following figures:

  

Department
Cat A
Cat B
Cat C(S)
Scheduled
Monument
Total


Scottish Courts Service
10
33
2
0
45


Forest Enterprise Scotland
1
12
6
1
20


Scottish Prison Service
6
9
1
0
16


The Scottish Executive
2
1
0
0
3


National Archives of Scotland
2
0
0
0
2


General Register Office for Scotland
1
0
0
0
1


Historic Scotland
0
1
0
0
1


Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
0
0
1
0
1


Total
22
56
10
1
89



  Note: *These figures are for protected individual buildings. Information on other structures, field monuments and buried remains is not held centrally.

  In addition, there are some 330 monuments in the care of Scottish ministers and managed by Historic Scotland.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage’s new headquarters in Inverness will use energy from renewable sources.

Lewis Macdonald: The procurement of energy in its offices is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.

Sewel Motions

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Sewel motions since 1999 have resulted in increased (a) powers to the Parliament, (b) powers to Scottish ministers and (b) responsibilities for Scottish ministers.

Ms Margaret Curran: There have been no bills, and hence no Sewel motions, to amend the powers of the Parliament. There have been Sewel motions for 44 Bills amending the functions of the Scottish ministers. The term "functions" is interpreted in line with the Scotland Act as including both powers and duties.

Smoking

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed ban on smoking in public places will apply to railway stations such as Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

Rhona Brankin: The premises or classes of premises which will be covered by the smoke-free legislation will be outlined in regulations which will go out to consultation shortly. The intention, however, is that those parts of railway stations which are wholly enclosed, except for doors, windows and passageways, will be covered by the legislation. Other areas, such as open platforms, will not be caught.

Smoking

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) male and (b) female schoolchildren smoked in each of the last eight years, broken down by NHS board area.

Rhona Brankin: The information requested based on information from national surveys (see notes) is as follows:

  Table 1: Trend Data (Regular Smokers) from 1994 to 2004, by Age Group and Gender, for Scotland

  Percentage of Regular Smokers by Age Group and Gender; Scotland 1994-2004

  

 
Year
 
 
 
 
 
All Pupils


Age/Gender
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2004 Bases


13 year olds
 


Boys
11
8
9
5
6
5
1,783


Girls
10
10
11
10
9
7
1,686


15 year olds
 


Boys
20
30
25
15
16
14
1,646


Girls
23
30
27
24
24
24
1,689



  Table 2: Smoking Data by Age and Gender, by Health Board, for 2002

  Percentage of Regular Smokers by Age Group, Gender and Health Board, 2002

  

Health Board
Age Group
Gender


Age 13
Age 15
Boys
Girls


Ayrshire and Arran
9
21
12
17


Borders
4
15
5
13


Argyll and Clyde
6
21
10
17


Fife
8
20
10
18


Glasgow
6
13
7
11


Highland
9
22
14
18


Lanarkshire
8
21
12
16


Grampian
7
24
13
18


Orkney
14
19
16
16


Lothian
9
20
11
18


Tayside
6
22
11
17


Forth Valley
10
19
10
19


Western Isles1
 
 
 
 


Dumfries and Galloway
12
24
16
19


Shetland
9
18
10
16



  Notes:

  1. The Western Isles did not participate in SALSUS 2002.

  2. Data up to 1998 is based on biennial surveys of S1 to S4 schoolchildren in Scotland by the office of National Statistics and National Centre for Social Research and the National Foundation of Education Research.

  3. Data is only collected at a Scotland level, except for SALSUS 2002, which collected data at the level of health boards.

  4. Since 2002 trend data is extracted from the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Surveys (SALSUS) of S2 and S4 pupils which are carried out biennially.

  5. For the purposes of these surveys, a regular smoker is defined as someone who usually smokes one or more cigarettes a week.

Students

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering seeking visa extensions for teaching graduates from Scottish institutions who would require such extensions in order to complete their probationer time in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: Extending visas for Non-EU students who have successfully gained a postgraduate teaching qualification (PTQ) at a Scottish Institution is not necessary as they can apply for work permits to complete their probationary year in Scotland.

  Students from the European Economic Area (plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) already have the right to live and take up employment in Scotland at the end of their PTQ course and therefore do not need visas to remain here.

Supermarkets

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has in respect of the amount of local produce purchased by supermarkets and, if it does not have such information, whether it will obtain it in future.

Ross Finnie: We do not hold information on the amount of local produce purchased by supermarkets and have no plans to obtain such information in the future. When I meet the supermarkets, however, I stress the importance of sourcing local produce.

Timber Industry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified £3 million in the budget for 2005-06 and £5 million for each of the following two years for the Timber Transport Fund; if so, whether criteria governing grants from the fund have been devised; whether the timber industry, in particular the private timber industry, will be consulted on such criteria and, if so, how; whether there will be any flexibility built in to the rules governing the funds; whether the rules will cover the costs of providing sea access for timber transport and, if so, what provision will be made for grants or other means of defraying the cost of lifting equipment, and whether, given the public sector’s commercial involvement in the timber industry, the Forestry Commission should be the final arbiter in respect of any decision.

Lewis Macdonald: As announced last October, the Scottish Executive has allocated £13 million over the next three years for the Strategic Timber Transport Fund. £3 million has been allocated for 2005-06 and £5 million for each of the following two years.

  Forestry Commission Scotland has been working closely with the Timber Transport Forum to produce the criteria governing the Strategic Timber Transport Fund. These have now been agreed and will be published shortly.

  It is not our intention to use the fund to finance investment on items like sea access equipment, which could be assisted by other methods such as the Freight Facilities Grant. I would expect the fund to complement other work by, for example; providing in-forest road links to port or rail facilities that take pressure off fragile roads or reduce disruption to rural communities.

  It is entirely appropriate that Forestry Commission Scotland, as the Executive’s Forestry Department, remains the final arbiter in respect of any decision. However, whilst the Commission will administer the fund and take final decisions regarding applications, the Timber Transport Forum and Regional Timber Transport Groups may also be asked for their advice on certain applications. I am delighted that the various organisations involved in the forum agreed to help with this important work and that they managed to agree the criteria and procedures so quickly.

Waste Management

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it envisages can be made to its climate change programme by waste-to-energy schemes.

Ross Finnie: The National Waste Plan, published in 2003, envisages that energy recovery from municipal waste will increase to 7% by 2010 and 14% by 2020. The overall impact of the plan, including significant reductions in landfill and increased recycling and composting, is estimated to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by some 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020.

Waste Management

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the effects of dumping sewage on land in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: Dumping sewage on land is illegal in Scotland.

  I explained the research that has been undertaken into the impact of sludge recovery by land-spreading in response to question S2W-5087 from Karen Gillon MSP on 5 January 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  More recently, research was carried out in Scotland by HW Erhard and SM Rhind of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, in which sewage sludge was used as a vector for real-life environmental pollutants. Some results were published in The Science of the Total Environment 332, pp 101 – 108.

Waste Management

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what methods other than land disposal it is currently considering for the disposal of sewage.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive does not dispose of sewage. This is an operational matter for Scottish Water.

Wildlife

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the deer cull recently carried out at Mar Lodge Estate was appropriate and carried out in accordance with best practice.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for the National Trust For Scotland as owners of the Mar Lodge Estate.